478 
THE VOLCANOES OF GUATEMALA. 
dipped outwards in every direction in the manner usual in volcanic cones. 
The volcanoes mostly spring from a plateau about 5000 feet above sea- 
level, and Santa Maria is no exception, standing at the edge of the 
high land. The country to the north is all an elevated region, while to 
the south are the foothills, the “ costa,” which slope gradually down to 
the coastal plain. They are mostly formed of fragmentary volcanic 
materials, and are much cut up into steep, narrow ridges separated by 
deep valleys similar to those on the flanks of the West Indian volcanoes. 
These ridges were, before the eruption, the seat of coffee plantations, 
which were then devastated, and have only partially recovered. At 
the foot of the mountain was a comparatively flat piece of ground 
overlooking this system of valleys, which was somewhat less sloping 
than the surrounding parts, and had consequently been selected as a 
camping-ground by the engineers engaged in making a survey for a 
railway from the coast round the mountain to the town of Quez- 
altenango behind it. It was covered with a dense tropical growth like 
the rest of the mountain, from which it showed no special difference. 
It was from this place that the eruption of October 24, 1902, broke 
out. Slight earthquakes were felt in the neighbourhood during the day, 
and about 5 p.m. a loud and increasing sound was heard in San Felipe, a 
neighbouring village. This sound appeared to come from the direction 
of the mountain. It was compared by some to the noise of a waterfall, 
by others to a gigantic boiler blowing off. The noise lasted half an 
hour. About this time dark clouds were noticed from Quezaltenango 
and elsewhere in the direction of the mountain. They were at first 
ascribed to a thunderstorm. Towards evening a slight sprinkling 
of sand occurred at Quezaltenango, which soon covered the landscape 
with white. The wind changed from south to east, and ashes began 
to fall at Helvetia, a coffee plantation 6 miles to the south-west. 
About 7 p.m. a glow began to appear, and lightning was noticed in 
the neighbourhood of the present crater, and roaring sounds were 
heard. About 8 p.m. the air had sufficiently cleared for an enormous 
black cloud to be visible to persons at a distance from the mountain. 
It was seamed with countless curved lines of red and green electric 
discharges; violent claps of thunder were noticed (but it is not 
mentioned at what distance they were best heard). About 1 a.m., 
October 25, stones began to fall at Sabina, a bathing establishment at 
the foot of the mountain towards the south-east. At 3 a.m. pumice- 
stones fell abundantly in Helvetia. They measured 15-25 centimetres, 
and weighed J to f lb. They were first cold, then hot, and later were 
mixed with stones of heavier material as big as the fist. Lapilli the 
size of peas fell at Quezaltenango, 10 miles north-north-east. The 
eruption increased in violence, and the whole district was enveloped 
in darkness. The maximum intensity was reached about 11 a.m. on 
Sunday the 25th, though it remained severe till nightfall. It was not 
